Comics

When Grand Papier gave out a video of clouds as the constraint for their 24 hour comics event this year, I used it as an opportunity to adapt an essay I wrote a few years ago into a comic. I had been wanting to make this comic for a while now, but never had the time. And now I had 24 hours to do it. You might say this is cheating, and that, for a 24 hour comic, you’re supposed to make up a new story on the spot. To that I say: there is no cheating in comics and lighten up.

Please note that the bulk of this was done under extreme stress during the actual 24hBD so excuse any sloppiness in writing or drawing. Also please note that although this is based on a true story but should not be considered journalism. The last scene has been fiddled with in order to fit the constraints of the 24 hour comics theme and the dialogue has been reconstructed/invented.

In the summer of 2011, the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations was making headlines around the world. But the idea of a national identity is nothing new to Palestinians themselves. I spoke with Khaled Jarrar, an artist from Ramallah, about his passport stamp project.

Syria is a temporary refuge to hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have fled their own country following the 2003 invasion by US coalition forces. While some have been resettled to third countries, many are waiting as refugees without access to work or higher education.

When my little brother decided to move to California, he asked me if I wanted to join him for the drive from the East Coast. Of course I said yes. From the passenger seat and motels, I worked on this sketchbook comic over our 8 day trip.